Ahh, yes...Ash Wednesday...

[Mr.Bill]

the day we get to see which of the cable news people and politicians we see on TV are Catholics.

Funny thing is, growing up in a Catholic household in the 50s and 60s, I don't remember it being a thing to leave it there all day. We washed it off as soon as we got home from church, and my parents didn't object.

[PJMcK]

1. It's all a show

Right?

[Mr.Bill]

2. Oh, yes, Catholics always put on a great show.

The costumes alone are absolutely fabulous. Some people are very attracted to ceremony and ritual. Many fraternal organizations are like that, too.

[unc70]

3. Not just Catholics

Various other denominations: Episcopal, Methodist, ...

[Mr.Bill]

5. I knew about Episcopalians (Catholic lite) but not Methodists. n/t

[trotsky]

4. Public piety.

Never cared much for it when I was a believer, certainly don't care for it much now.

[TlalocW]

6. Eh, more hamburgers for me on Fridays

TlalocW

[Mr.Bill]

7. I never minded having fish one night a week. I looked forward to Fridays as a child.

Now I even have it more frequently than that. I just don't care to have someone else tell me which night.

[rurallib]

13. I hated fish and still do - I dreaded Fridays.

finally started eating meat on Fridays @ age 13. I didn't die go to hell and finally quit starving on Fridays.

[progressoid]

8. Yeah, I ran into a couple smudged foreheads at the store today.

Wonder if they noticed my eye rolling.

[Cartoonist]

9. Eye rolling is persecution

Please be tolerant.

[progressoid]

11. You are so right.

Next time I'll just do an internal eye-roll. Wouldn't want to make Jesus cry.

[handmade34]

10. not just Catholics

many Protestants as well... and I respect people that adhere to the ritual... now, dogmatic ritual is dangerous, but many traditions are healthy if approached with awareness and wisdom

[lindysalsagal]

12. Tribalism requires the labeling of both members and outsiders.

But it's the whole "Charred human" look that really sells it.

[rurallib]

14. Went to a catholic school so the ashes were applied early and left on all day

[edhopper]

15. The day people can show

they support child rape.